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I had a little bit of a breakdown last night when I finally faced my closet and tried to figure out what I would wear to temple today for Yom Kippur services. It wasn't pretty.
You see, I'm close to my pre-pregnancy weight. About 4 pounds away. 4 pounds SEEMS like nothing. It seems so doable. So reasonable. So freaking close. Still, though, those 4 pounds are the difference between fitting into all of my pretty clothes, and not being able to zip the backs of my skirts up.
Don't get me wrong, I have been feeling pretty good about myself these days. I don't feel frumpy all the time anymore, I've been phasing out of the "uniform" I purchased for the last few months. When I wear the pants I've been wearing over the summer, I find myself hitching up the waistline throughout the afternoon because they are (mercifully) loose on me. I even fit into some of my pre-pregnancy pants, a select few, but still, it's something.
Last night, though, I felt awful as the pile on the bed of skirts and dresses that didn't fit grew and grew and grew. I worked at a law firm up until December, and I had a lot of work clothes. Work clothes that I took care of, and dry cleaned dutifully, and picked out carefully. I don't even want to wear these outfits often, because spit up doesn't look good on the cream skirt suit, but I would like to wear them occasionally.
I feel somewhat silly even writing this post, because the weight gain has totally been worth it. I'd do it over a million times to have had Gabe, and I can't complain because I haven't been cutting out anything, and I've certainly been indulging myself in many a frappuccino and cookie and buffalo wing. I think it's time, though. I'm going to have to get off my butt and get rid of these last 4 pounds, and hopefully a little more than that.
My question is, what should I do? Should I go all-out and join a gym? Or should I start by taking walks with Gabe? Should I stop eating junk? Count calories? What has worked for you?
Saturday, September 22, 2007
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11 comments:
Hi! I've never posted before, but I had a little guy very close to when you had Gabe (I think I found your blog on babes in blogland or something) and although I'm slightly more then 4 lbs away from pre-preg weight (more like 20!) I've lost 21 lbs in the last 9 weeks with weight watchers. I would give it a try and I can almost guarantee you will lose those 4 and then some! Good luck!
With me, it wasn't the weight, but the way my abdominal muscles has stretched out. So doing something to exercise those muscles and tighten them was what got me back into all my old clothes.
I always opted for something that would be fun rather than just exercising for the point of exercising. I took karate when my kids were little and then later switched to belly dancing.
I agree with Jo(e)...it's probably not the actual weight but the way your body has changed. There were things from pre-Lady that I had to just part with, because even though I got back to my pre pregnancy weight and size, my clothes didn't fit the same way. The good news is that it didn't happen again after Mister, so I think once your body changes, it stays the same. Even the teeny sister has confirmed that her pre clothes don't fit the right way.
Look at it as nature's way of saying "treat yourself to some new clothes, dammit!"
Are you still nursing? Because if you are, my answer is: let it go for awhile. You're smaller than I am, and I held on to 5-10 extra pounds while I was nursing. It will drop away of its own accord when you are done.
Sympathy on it, though. Lots and lots of sympathy. I know how much of a difference four pounds makes on a little person like you!
I have no pregnancy experience to share, but I think it's generally a good idea to get out and about to keep your body moving, whether it's walking, or belly dancing, or whatever. When Curious Girl was a baby I loved going walking with her. I do miss my time at the gym (but would generally rather be home when she's not in school than be at the gym, but that's my own issue).
I have noticed that my weight is holding steady but my clothes fit differently than they used to, since my body is shifting (even w/o a pregnancy).
I also have no pregnancy experience to relay, but I'm a big fan of walking. If I was in your shoes, that's what I'd be doing with the little one in tow.
I remember opening my closet door after I'd had Julia, bursting into tears and closing it again.
What worked for me was omitting the starches from my diet. Not all of them, mind you, but a lot of them, and the "whites" -- white bread, white rice, flour, etc. That made a *huge* difference for me.
To finally lose the last 5-10 from my second I had to give up my fancy coffee. I didn't give it up all together (I'm not insane!)...but I cut down to a smallish size of just regular coffee. I also walked as much as I could with the kids and played like a maniac with them. I tried not to eat out at work as much and it finally worked, but it took most of the summer.
I also agree that your body is just never going to be the way it was again. It takes some time to learn to love the lumps in different places! Best wishes!
First, don't beat yourself up for worrying about the weight! It comes from a good place, but it still sucks. I agree with the poster who said it is really hard to take off the rest of the weight while still nursing. I am close, but it has been incredibly hard fought and I still have about 3 pounds I would like to shave off the scale. For me, what has worked so far is running. It is the easiest thing in the world, esp. with a jogger. And the baby loves watching the world go by so quickly. I also love spinning and walking, but it is running that works best. Good luck!
and p.s. You CAN do it. You do not have to buy all new clothes. your body has not changed permanently. I never thought I would be a size four again, but I am. So it IS possible.
I'm right there with you. No help, just a bit of commiseration. Blech. I'd actually the baby weight, then returned to the States. Now I have to lose the "Ahhhh, Back to the Land of the Huuuge Cheeseburger" weight.
I too noticed that even when the scale read what it did the day I got pregnant, NONE of my clothes fit as they had the last time that number ame up. Double blech.
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